Third son of Jas. Choles, of Devizes, Wilts, was born at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Dec 24, 1847. He was, educated at the Wolverhampton Gram. School, and received a practical training as an engineer in the London and N-W Locomotive Engineering Depts. In 1869 he was selected by Major General Worgan, RA, Inspector General of Ordnance, Bombay, for special duty in connection with the Powder Mills and Ammunition Factories at Kirkee, India. Subsequently his services were solicited at the Grand Arsenal and Government Dockyards, Bombay, to supervise the erection of the 18-ton guns for HM turret ships, Abyssinia and Magdala, of the Bombay Harbour Defence. In 1874 he was again sent forward on special duty to the arsenals at Mhow and Neemich, Central India. In 1879 he was the successful candidate from among nearly 200 applicants for the post of Ordnance Officer, Natal Volunteer Department. Owing to his many years of experience and his natural abilities for the special duties pertaining to Ordnance work, he has brought the Ordnance branch of the Natal Volunteer Department, of which he is the chief, from its infancy to a state of efficiency, and as far as practicable up to date in all details of military requirements. In 1899 he had the responsibility of equipping the Volunteers, and putting forward the mobilisation stores for the whole of the Natal Force, which were railed at Pietermaritzburg for Ladysmith within 24 hours from the time instructions were received for mobilisation. In Sep and Oct of the same year, he equipped those smart Irregular Corps, the Imperial Light Horse, Bethune's MI, and Thorneycroft's MI. He was at the base of operations, Pietermaritzburg, during the Boer War, Sep 13, 1899, to May 31, 1902 (Queen's and KSAs). He married Johanna Jane, third daughter of Edward and Mary Vale, of Upper Clapton, London, on Sep 6, 1880.